Method and Apparatus for Rapid Sterilization of Hazmat Suits, Surgical Instruments and the Like

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems for sterilization are disclosed, including placing one or more UV light sources located substantially at one or more foci of a substantially ellipsoidal reflecting surface coated enclosure; and generating UV radiation from the one or more UV light sources to sanitize one or more objects positioned between the foci of the substantially ellipsoidal reflecting surface coated enclosure; wherein the one or more UV light sources comprises a beam from a KrF Excimer laser being scattered by a spherically scattering sphere; wherein the KrF Excimer laser is configured to emit light pulses having a wavelength of about 248 nm.; wherein the KrF Excimer laser is configured to emit nanosecond light pulses; and wherein the spherically scattering sphere comprises a hollow fused silicon sphere filled with solid fused silicon spheres. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

I. CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/072,306, filed on Oct. 29, 2014, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Rapid Sterilization of Hazmat Suits, Surgical Instruments and the Like,” the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference into the present disclosure.

II. SUMMARY

In one respect, disclosed is an apparatus for sterilization comprising: a substantially ellipsoidal reflecting surface coated enclosure; and one or more UV light sources located substantially at the foci of the substantially ellipsoidal reflecting surface coated enclosure.

In another respect, disclosed is an apparatus for sterilization comprising: a substantially ellipsoidal reflecting surface coated enclosure; and one or more UV light sources located substantially at the foci of the substantially ellipsoidal reflecting surface coated enclosure; wherein the one or more UV light sources comprises a beam from a laser being scattered by a substantially isotropically scattering optical element; wherein the laser comprises at least one of a KrF Excimer laser, a fourth harmonic q-switched Nd:YAG solid state laser, a fourth harmonic mode locked Nd:YAG solid state laser, a fourth harmonic q-switched Nd:YLF solid state laser, a fourth harmonic mode locked Nd:YLF solid state laser, a fourth harmonic q-switched Nd:YVO4 solid state laser, and a fourth harmonic mode locked Nd:YVO4 solid state laser; wherein the KrF Excimer laser is configured to emit light pulses having a wavelength of about 248 nm; wherein the KrF Excimer laser is configured to emit nanosecond light pulses; and wherein the substantially isotropically scattering optical element comprises a hollow fused silicon bulb filled with solid fused silicon spheres.

In another respect, disclosed is a method for sterilization comprising: placing one or more UV light sources located substantially at one or more foci of a substantially ellipsoidal reflecting surface coated enclosure; and generating UV radiation from the one or more UV light sources to sanitize one or more objects positioned between the foci of the substantially ellipsoidal reflecting surface coated enclosure.

In yet another respect, disclosed is a method for sterilization comprising: placing one or more UV light sources located substantially at one or more foci of a substantially ellipsoidal reflecting surface coated enclosure; and generating UV radiation from the one or more UV light sources to sanitize one or more objects positioned between the foci of the substantially ellipsoidal reflecting surface coated enclosure; wherein the laser comprises at least one of a KrF Excimer laser, a fourth harmonic q-switched Nd:YAG solid state laser, a fourth harmonic mode locked Nd:YAG solid state laser, a fourth harmonic q-switched Nd:YLF solid state laser, a fourth harmonic mode locked Nd:YLF solid state laser, a fourth harmonic q-switched Nd:YVO4 solid state laser, and a fourth harmonic mode locked Nd:YVO4 solid state laser; wherein the KrF Excimer laser is configured to emit light pulses having a wavelength of about 248 nm; wherein the KrF Excimer laser is configured to emit nanosecond light pulses; and wherein the substantially isotropically scattering optical element comprises a hollow fused silicon bulb filled with solid fused silicon spheres.

Numerous additional embodiments are also possible.

III. BACKGROUND

There is recurrent need for rapid sterilization of materials and tools exposed to hazardous infectious agents such as Ebola and other harmful bacteria and pathogens. What is proposed is the equivalent of an air shower for persons entering a cleanroom, but in this case it is a rapid, highly efficient means for the sterilization of the surface of exposed hazmat suits while the person is wearing the suit. In the case of surgical instruments, the rapid sterilization is accomplished in a scaled down version of the system disclosed. An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the appended figures.

IV. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and advantages of the invention may become apparent upon reading the detailed description and upon reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a rapid sterilizer, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a rapid sterilizer, in accordance with some embodiments.

While the invention is subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and the accompanying detailed description. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description are not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments. This disclosure is instead intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

V. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One or more embodiments of the invention are described below. It should be noted that these and any other embodiments are exemplary and are intended to be illustrative of the invention rather than limiting. While the invention is widely applicable to different types of systems, it is impossible to include all of the possible embodiments and contexts of the invention in this disclosure. Upon reading this disclosure, many alternative embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art.

Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment has a high power Excimer laser using KrF pump media emitting nanosecond UV light pulses at 248 nm. This pulsed UV light has very efficient antibiotic characteristics. The beam from this laser source is split into two beams by a beam splitter (BS) shown in FIG. 1. These beams are steered by means of mirrors (M) to two substantially isotropically scattering optical element, such as spherically scattering spheres, located at the foci of an ellipsoidal highly reflecting diffuse surface coated enclosure. Because the UV light pulses are brought into spherically scattering sources at the foci of an ellipsoidal cavity, the entire cavity will be uniformly illuminated with the UV light pulses. A person (as shown in FIG. 1) will be instantly uniformly illuminated and the hazmat suit they are wearing will be rapidly sterilized and sanitized. To achieve proper centering of the person, a grate with wide open spacing is used as the floor in the enclosure. A support structure holds the enclosure with the major axis vertically. In other embodiments, the laser comprises a fourth harmonic q-switched Nd:YAG solid state laser, a fourth harmonic mode locked Nd:YAG solid state laser, a fourth harmonic q-switched Nd:YLF solid state laser, a fourth harmonic mode locked Nd:YLF solid state laser, a fourth harmonic q-switched Nd:YVO₄ solid state laser, and/or a fourth harmonic mode locked Nd:YVO₄ solid state laser. All of these laser sources are capable of generating short pulses of far UV light which maximizes the lethality of the radiation acting on the pathogenic organisms.

A related embodiment is shown in FIG. 2. In this apparatus, a scaled down version of the above described system is shown. Again a high power KrF Excimer laser emitting nanosecond laser pulses at 248 nm is beam steered to two spherically scattering spheres located at the foci of a properly coated ellipsoidal enclosure as shown in FIG. 2. To be rapidly sterilized and sanitized, the surgical instruments, such as scalpels, forceps, and even endoscopes, are placed on a grate positioned near the major axis of the enclosure. In this arrangement, as in the above disclosed one, the sterilizing pulsed UV light uniformly illuminates the targeted objects placed near the major axis. A support structure as shown keeps the ellipsoidal enclosure horizontal.

An example embodiment of a spherically scattering sphere may be produced by filling a small fused silicon hollow bulb with fused silicon solid spheres of an appropriate dimension. The fused silicon solid spheres scatter the incident laser radiation in a substantially isotropic manner.

In alternate embodiments, other UV sterilization light sources may be used, such as placing xenon or mercury vapor lamps at the foci of the enclosure.

The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

The benefits and advantages that may be provided by the present invention have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. These benefits and advantages, and any elements or limitations that may cause them to occur or to become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features of any or all of the claims. As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variations thereof, are intended to be interpreted as non-exclusively including the elements or limitations which follow those terms. Accordingly, a system, method, or other embodiment that comprises a set of elements is not limited to only those elements, and may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to the claimed embodiment.

While the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it should be understood that the embodiments are illustrative and that the scope of the invention is not limited to these embodiments. Many variations, modifications, additions and improvements to the embodiments described above are possible. It is contemplated that these variations, modifications, additions and improvements fall within the scope of the invention as detailed within the following claims. 

1. A sterilizer comprising: a substantially ellipsoidal reflecting surface coated enclosure; and one or more UV light sources located substantially at the foci of the substantially ellipsoidal reflecting surface coated enclosure.
 2. The sterilizer of claim 1, wherein the one or more UV light sources comprises a beam from a laser being scattered by a substantially isotropically scattering optical element.
 3. The sterilizer of claim 2, wherein the laser comprises at least one of a KrF Excimer laser, a fourth harmonic q-switched Nd:YAG solid state laser, a fourth harmonic mode locked Nd:YAG solid state laser, a fourth harmonic q-switched Nd:YLF solid state laser, a fourth harmonic mode locked Nd:YLF solid state laser, a fourth harmonic q-switched Nd:YVO₄ solid state laser, and a fourth harmonic mode locked Nd:YVO₄ solid state laser.
 4. The sterilizer of claim 3, wherein the KrF Excimer laser is configured to emit light pulses having a wavelength of about 248 nm.
 5. The sterilizer of claim 3, wherein the KrF Excimer laser is configured to emit nanosecond light pulses.
 6. The sterilizer of claim 2, wherein the substantially isotropically scattering optical element comprises a hollow fused silicon bulb filled with solid fused silicon spheres.
 7. The sterilizer of claim 1, wherein the one or more UV light sources comprises at least one of a xenon lamp and a mercury vapor lamp.
 8. The sterilizer of claim 1, wherein the substantially ellipsoidal reflecting surface coated enclosure comprises a diffuse surface.
 9. A method for sterilization comprising: placing one or more UV light sources located substantially at one or more foci of a substantially ellipsoidal reflecting surface coated enclosure; and generating UV radiation from the one or more UV light sources to sanitize one or more objects positioned between the foci of the substantially ellipsoidal reflecting surface coated enclosure.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more UV light sources comprises a beam from a laser being scattered by a substantially isotropically scattering optical element.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the laser comprises at least one of a KrF Excimer laser, a fourth harmonic q-switched Nd:YAG solid state laser, a fourth harmonic mode locked Nd:YAG solid state laser, a fourth harmonic q-switched Nd:YLF solid state laser, a fourth harmonic mode locked Nd:YLF solid state laser, a fourth harmonic q-switched Nd:YVO₄ solid state laser, and a fourth harmonic mode locked Nd:YVO₄ solid state laser.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the KrF Excimer laser is configured to emit light pulses having a wavelength of about 248 nm.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the KrF Excimer laser is configured to emit nanosecond light pulses.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein the substantially isotropically scattering optical element comprises a hollow fused silicon bulb filled with solid fused silicon spheres.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more UV light sources comprises at least one of a xenon lamp and a mercury vapor lamp.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the substantially ellipsoidal reflecting surface coated enclosure comprises a diffuse surface.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more objects comprises a human dressed in a hazmat suit.
 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more objects comprises an endoscope. 